Whip stock locking and releasing apparatus



April 4, '1 961 R. P. HANNA 2,978,032

WHIP STOCK LOCKING AND RELEASING APPARATUS Filed July 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 rs 1 a 11 22 2a a g l LP Fue. 1

H INVENTOR.

RQBERT P. HANNA \i BYZZ'oZZad "6?) LLJ/A AWOQNEYS' April 4, 1961 R. P. HANNA 2,978,032

WHIP STOCK LOCKING AND RELEASING APPARATUS Filed July 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ROBERT P. HANNA BYw owai a/fl'u' a) Anne/van LOCKING AND RELEASING APPARATUS Robert P. Hanna, Box 362, Oak View, Calif.

" Filed July 26, 1957, Ser. No. 674,492

7 Claims. (Cl. 166--117.5),

WHIPSTOCK This invention relates generally to oil tools andrnore particularly to an improved whip stock and tool therefor adapted to be inserted between a string of drill pipe and a drill bit. This application is a continuation-mpart of my co-pending application, Serial Number 563,- 532 filed February 6, 1956 and entitled Whip Stock Locking and Releasing Apparatus,'now United States Patent No. 2,823,012.

In the lowering of conventional type whip stocks for the purpose of deflection drilling, there are often encountered projections or caves in the bore hole which tend to obstruct movement of the whip stock. The

. lower end of the whip stock extends beyond the normal mud passage outlet in the drill bit. Thus, while it is possible to circulate mud continuously through the pipe string and out the drill bit during the lowering process, the beneficial elfects of this circulation in preparing a passage for the pipe'string have stock itself. I

There is also encountered the'difiicu'lty of'pro'perly positioning the whip stock at the bottom of the bore hole in a desired orientation. Normally, the collar portion ofthe whip stock is supported by the end of the drill pipe string with one shear pin. After the whip stock is in position at the bottom or at an intermediate location in the bore hole, the pin is intentionally broken or sheared and the drilling is commenced. After the shear 2,978,032 Patented Apr. 4, 1961 string while it is being lowered into the bore hole, and

which will retain the whip stock in its initially set orientation during the first downward movements of the string through the whip stock collar portion, and which additionally includes meansv for simultaneously altering the I mud flow circulation path from one passing through the whip stock to one passing out the drill hit. As a OOH! sequence, once the whip stock is set in a desired position, it will remain substantially in such position and deflection drilling may progress with normahmud circulation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a 1 combination whip stock and tool therefor which may be operated from the surface of the bore hole for releasing the whip stock from the end of the drill pipe string once it has been lowered into a desired position on the bottom of the bore hole and for simultaneously changing the mud flow circulation as heretofore described. V

These and many other objects and advantages of this invention are attained, briefly, by providing an improved whip stock and collar portion including a longitudinal mud circulation channel passing from the upper end of the collar portion to the lower end of the whip stock. The inner annular wall of the whip stockcollar portion is provided with a pair of axially spaced seals between little'etlect on the whip pin is broken, movement of the drill pipe string through which the upper end of the mud channel opens. The cooperating tool for holding the whip stock includes an elongated pipe section passing axially through the collar and provided with a lateral port normally, positioned to open out between the annular seals onthe whip stock collar w'hereby mud passingthrough the pipe section may pass through this lateral port and down through the mud channel of the whip stock while thesame is being lowered into the bore hole. V i

As in applicants co-pending application above referred to, the exterior portion of the pipe section is also pro} vided with one or more longitudinal lands adapted to be received in suitable longitudinal grooves on the inside portion of the whip stock collar whereby relative rotation between the whip stock and pipe section is prevented during initial positioning of the whip stock. There are also provided laterally'movable means interposed between the inside collar portion of the whip stock and the through a lateral opening. Normally, this laterally movof thebore hole side walls as :a consequence of little or no mudcirculation in the area of the whip stock, but further, this swinging tendency aggravates the problem of the whipstock becoming hung up by bridges and like obstructions during the lowering process.

Bearing the above in mind, one important object of the presentinvention is to provide an improved whip stock; SllI'LlOlllIQWhiCh co-operates with a holding tool to permit mud circulation to, pass through. the entire whip stock and out the tip wherebylhe lowering and posistock-in .a rigid position respect to'the drill able means secures the pipe section and whip stock against relative axial movement during the lowering and setting of the whip stock in the bore hole.

The actuating means itself within the pipe section is designed not only to move the laterally movable means upon actuation but also to alter the mud circulation flow path to block mud from passing through thewhip stock channel after the whip stock has been set. Thus, upon actuation of the actuating means within the pipe section, the laterally movable means is movedto free the pipe section. for relative axial movement with respect to the whip stock. Simultaneously, the mud flow pathis altered I to pass mud out of the drill bit. The longitudinal lands on the pipe section and longitudinal grooves in the Whip stock collar are of sutlicient axial extent that relative rotation between the whip stock and pipe section is prevented during the initial movements of the pipe section through the whip stock collar such that when the lands have been moved sufliciently to be free of the grooves in the collar, the whip stock is thoroughly wedged in position and deflection drilling may then commence in a normal manner. I t

' ,A better understanding of the various. features and advantages otthis invention be had by referring" to a harness preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the ac companying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an enlarged cutaway perspective view of f the improved whip stock portion oi the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the whip 'sitoclg of Figure 1 in position about a pipe section illustrating the actuating means for locking and releasing the whip stock in a first position wherein the whip stock is securely held against relative rotational and axial movement with respect to the pipe section during the lowering thereof into the bore hole; and, o s h t i V Figure 3 is another cross section identical to Figune 2 except that the actuating means is illustrated in a sec ond position wherein the whip stock is free for relative axial movement with respect to the pipe section and the mud circulation path has been altered. 7

Referring to Figure l, the details of the whip stoclc and collar will first be'described, As shown, the whip stock comprises a conventionally shaped whip stock body 10 including the conventional wedge portion 11 indicated in dotted lines along its inner rear wall. In accordance with a first important feature of the present invention, this rear wall is provided with a longitudinal channel 12.

At the upper annular portion of the whip stock 10 and channel'12 thereis provided a whip stock collar 13. 7 As shown, the collar 13 includes a series of longitudinal grooves 14 on its inside annular wall terminating in shoulder portions 14' at their upper ends and opening into the interior of the whip stock 10 at their lower ends. These grooves are adapted to co-operate' with suitable exterior lands on. the whip stock tool holder to be described subsequently Also included on the inside annular wall of the collar -13. is a pairof axially spaced sealing ringslS and 16 Between these rings the collar is recessed to define an annular passage 17 in fluid communication with the whip stock mud channel 12 through an upper end inlet opening. p i o Disposed axially above the annular passage 17 and circumferentially spaced at ninety degrees are aseriesof bores 19 passing through the annular wall of the collar, three of which are shown. These bores are exteriorally plugged as byplugs 2 and serve asreceiving portions for partially receiving laterally movable means in theform of balls such as the M1121. The whip stock collar 13 as thus described may be formed integrally with the whip stock body 1Q or alternatiyely. may be rigidly's ecured thereto as by welding at 22 and 23. i it (I i H In Figure 2, thewhip stock of Figure 1 is shown attaehed to a co-operating locking and releasing tool in turn adapted to be inserted between the end of a drill pipe string and drill bit. As shown, this tool comprises two basic components: first, an elongated longitudinal pipe section 24 passing axially through the whip stock collar 13 and terminating in a drill bit; and second an actuating means in the form of a piston'25 longitudinally movable within the pipe section24 v I h Referring first in detail to the pipe section 24, the upper end thereof is threadably "secured to an adapter section 26 for attachment to the lower end ofa pipe strin g. The lower end is provided with one or more exterior longitudinal lands 27. These lands are adapredwebe received in the longitudinal grooves 14 of the whip stock collar 13 to lock the pipe section and whip stock against relative rotations'o long as the lands are positioned in the grooves. Theloweri'n't'erior portion of'theipipe' ee tion '24 includes'afredu'cejd diameter chamber h i a restricted neck pernonfariisupper endan an outlet mud passage 29 at its lower end. This 'r'nudlpass'age 'co'r'rifmunicates with a conventional drill bit 30"threadedly connected to the pipe section 24 as at 31. l v

The central portion of the pipe section 24 widens out into a uniform diarneter cylinder portion 32throughotit the remaining length of the pipefseetion jandfdefines flan aniiular shoulder '33 attire upper end of the chaniber Passing through the side wall of the pipe section 24 above the annular shoulder 33 is a lateral port 34 communicating with the annular passage 17 defined by the interior annular wall portion of the whip stock collar 13 between the axially spaced pair of seals 15 and 16 and the exterior of the wall portion 32 of the pipe section 24. Thus, mud flowing outthe outlet port 34 is confined within the annular passage 17 by the spaced seals but may flow about this annular passage to pass into the upper end of the channel opening 18 of the whip stock channel 12 regardless of the relative initial rotative position of the whip stock and pipe section.

Disposed above the port opening 34 in the pipe section side wall 32 are further lateral openings such as the opening 35 registering with the receiving bore opening 19 for the ball 21 in the whip stock collar 13. The arrangement is such that the ball 21 partially extends into this lateral opening in the side wall of the pipe section as shown. The extreme upper end o f the pipe section is threaded as at 36 to the adapter section 26. I

Referring now in detail to the second basic component of the tool, the piston 25 includes a central mud passage 37 terminating at its extreme lower end in a ball check valve 38. Spaced above this lower end are lateral mud port openings such as indicated at 39 substantially even with the lateral port opening 34in the sidewall "32 of the pipe section when the piston 25 is the first position illustrated in Figure -v ,Above the lateral ports 39 there is provided a first enlarged diameter flange 40 positioned to abut orblock the balls 21 when the piston 25 is in the position illustrated in Figure 2. In this PQS tion; the lower end of the flange defines with the annular shoulder 33 anannular space. By this arrangement, mt ld passing downthe central, mud passage 37 0f the piston will pass out the, lateral ports w into this annular space and thence through the ports 34 into the annular passage 17 and down the mud channel 12 of the whip stoclg. h

V Axially spaced above the annular flange 40 is a second enlarged diameter annular flange 41. The flanges 40 and 41 define an annular recess therebetween with the inside of the pipe section wall 32 as shown. This recess is dimensioned to receive the ball 21 when the piston 25 is moved from the position illustrated in Figure 2 to asecond position as will be described in conneetion with Figure 3. The first and second enlarged diameter an s. 40 and 4 a e. pr id t p iph l. Q Ii I r n s cat d wh eb d P ss n ifihves ewe lateral ports 39 of the. piston 25 is blocked from entering the annular recess defined between these flanges h I Above the second enlarged diameter annular flange 41, the piston extends into the adapter section 26 and is normally secured in its first position to this adapter section as byshear pins 42 and 43. The upper end portion of the piston 25 includes lateral mud ports 44 and terminates ingarball seating surface 45. The adapter section 26 includes an enlarged diameterchamber portion 46 arranged to be placed in communication with the upper lateral mud ports 44 when the piston 25 is in 'a second position as will become clearer as the description proceeds The extreme upper end of the adapter section 26 terminates in threads 47 'adapted to be' threadably connected to the end of a conventional drill pipe string.

From the physical description of the various com ponents and their relative positions described'in connec' tion with Figufe 1, it will be evident nning whip Steele 10 is secured firstagainst ifelative rotation with respect to the p e 'seqidn 24 by means of the exterior: longi lowering into a'bore hole. 1

. illustrated. The whip stock is accordingly held against both rotative; and axial movementwith respect to the pipe section and in the position illustrated, is ready for In operation, during the lowering process, mud is circulated through the drill pipe string to pass into the upper end ofthe adapter 26 and through the central mud passage 37 of the piston 25. asindicated by the arrows. As shown, the mud passes on down through the central mud passage 37 and out the lateral ports 39 into the annular space defined between the lower end of the first enlarged annular flange-40 and the annularshoulder '33 defined by the upper end of the chamber 28. From this annular space, mud then flows through the lateral ports 34 into the annular passage 17 defined by the collar portion 13, and through the upper end opening 18 of the whip stock mud channel 12. Mud passes down through this channel and out the end of the whip stock whereby any possible obstructions to the passage of the whip stock through the bore hole are substantially cleared by mud circulating from the tip. The process of lowering the whip stock into the bore hole is thus greatly facilitated by this novel mud circulation arrangement. The whip stock itself is thoroughly locked to the pipe section and thusis not subject to arcuate swinging or otherwise moving in a mannersuch that it may become caught in caves or the like. 1. When the position within the bore hole has been reached wherein a deflection bore is to be started, the lowering of the pipe string is stopped and the setting of the-whip stockmay then proceed. In order to unlock the whip stock from the pipe section, the actuating means in the form of the piston 25 is caused to move from the first position illustrated in Figure 2 to the second position illustrated in Figure 3. This movement is effected from the surface of the bore hole by dropping a small ball 48 as illustrated in Figure 3 through the drill pipe string amassei 1 amine ports 39 into'the chamber28 in the lower poi tion of the pipe section and thence on down through the drill bit mud passage 29 out the end of the drill bit 30 as indicated by the arrows in Figure 3.

After the piston 25 is in the second position illustrated with respect to the whip stock 10 and collar portion '13. Thus, loweringv of the pipe string will now move the pipe section axially through the collar portion a given distance. In this latter described movement, the longi-. tudinal lands 27 on the outside of the pipe section will slidedownwardly along the grooves 14 in the whip stock collar portion and during this initial movement relative rotation between the whip stock and the pipe section will still be prevented. This initial movement, however, will serve to lodge the whip stockv into the surrounding formations without any possibilityofv the angular orientation" of the whip stockchanging. Continued movement 0f the pipe string downwardly will ultimately 'cause the exterior lands 27 to pass fromthe lower ends of the grooves 'in the collar and thus free the pipe section for relative rotation with respect to the whip stock. The drilling .of'the deflection bore may thus commence in the desired direction as determined by the initial orientation of the whip stock and mud may be circulated in a conventional manner.

' When the whip stock is to be removed, the drill pipe string is simply raised up until the lands 27 on the pipe section engage the upper end shoulders or the grooves or, 'ifthe relative rotational positions between the whip stock and pipe section are not such that the lands will be, received in the grooves, the upper ends of the lands will simply engage the underside of the collar 13. to'lift the the same upwardly. The purpose for thelower ball check 38 at the extreme end of the piston member 25 is.

\ to enable conventional reverse mud circulation to be to pass into the upper end of the adapter section 26 and fall in the-ball seat at the upper end of the piston 25. When the ball 48 is received in the ball seat 45, the mud circulation through the central mud passage 37 of the pistonis blocked and pressure willbuild up in the upper part of=the adapter section. After the pressurehas built up to a given value suflicient to shear the shear pins 42 and 43, the piston 25 will be moved longitudinally downwardly to the position illustrated in Figure 3. In this position, the upper end of the piston is received in the enlarged diameter chamber 46 whereby mud may again circulate through the central mud passage 37 by passing through the mud ports 44 as indicated by' the arrows.

In this second position of the piston 25, it will be noted that the underside of the first enlarged diameter annular flange 40 has seated against the annular shoulder 33 of the pipe section 24, and this shoulder thus serves as a stop means for movement of the piston. As a further consequence of this movement, the annular recess defined between the first and second flanges 40 and 41 has moved down into a position level with the lateral opening 35 in the pipe section side wall such that the balls 21 fall into this annular recess as indicated by the dotted arrows in Figure .3. Simultaneously, movement of the first annular flange 40 into seating relationship with respect to the annular shoulder 33 of the pipe section moves the lateral ports 39 from a position formerly in communication with the lateral ports 34 of the pipe section into the reduced diameter chamber 28 in the lower portion of the pipe section. Mud flow passing down the central mud passage 37 is thus blocked from passing out of the lateral ports 34 of the pipe section and caused to pass eifected, if desired when the piston 25 is in the first tion illustrated in Figure 2.

It will be evident from the above description that the present invention provides a greatly improved whip stock and whip stock locking and releasing tool in which the same may be controlled from the surface of the bore hole by means of the drop ball 48 and mud pressure and inwhich a single actuation of .the actuating means in the form of the piston 25, serves to both unlock the pipe, section and whip stock for relative axial movement and alter the mud circulation path whereby mud is circulated out the drill bit in a normal fashion.

Various modifications within the scope and spirit of the present invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The improved whip stock and tool is, therefore, not to be thought of as limited to the specific embodiment set forth for illustrative purposes.

What is claimed is:

l. A whip stock comprising: a collar portion; at least two axially spaced annular seals disposed above the interior wall of said collar portion; and channel means defining a mud passage having an upper end opening between said seals and passing down said whip stock to open out of the lower end thereof, said collar portion being adapted to surround a pipe section having a lateral mud port opening between said seals whereby mud passing through said port opening is confined by said seals to flow through said channel means, a portion of the interior wall portion between said seals on said collar portion being recessed to define in cooperation with the outer walls of said pipe section an annular passage so that said port opening is in communication with said upper end posiopening of said channel means for all relative rotative positions between said collar portion and said pipe section.

2. A whip stock tool comprising, in combination: a whipstock having a collar formed at its upper end and including a mud channel having an upper end opening in including a lateral opening above'said lateral. mudport" within which an opposite portion of said'laterally movable means projects for locking said collar and pipe. section.

against relative axial movement; an.e1ongated; piston longitudinally movable within said pipe; section from an upper first positionto a lower section position, saidpiston including an' enlarged diameter annular flange having a reduced diameter region above the upper end of said annular flange suflicient to accommodate said laterally movable means, said annular fl'a'nge; being juxtaposed said lateral opening when said piston is in'said first position to hold said laterally movable meanszpartially within'said lateral opening, said pipe section including. a reduced diameter chamber in its lower. portion'having. a mud passage extending therefrom out of the bottom of said pipe section, said chamber defining an upper annular shoulder axially spaced below said annular. flange when said piston is in said'first position to define with saidannular flange an annular space communicating withsaid lateral mud port, said piston including a centralmudpassage having an upper entrance portionand' a lower exit openinginto said annular space when insaid first position so that mud passing down through said mud passageflows: into said. annular space and out through said lateral mud port to said upper end opening'ofsaid mud channel in said whip stock, movement of said piston from said first positionv to said second positionpositioning said annular flange below said lateral openingrto release said laterally movable means for movement from said collar completely through said lateral opening into. said region above said annular flange thereby permitting relative axial. movement of said pipe section with respect to. said collar, said annular flange also seatingon said" annular shoulder in a position juxtaposed saidlateral mud port when said piston is in said second position to block the flow of mud through said lateral mud port, said lower exit opening in said piston extending below said annular shoulder tozcommunicate withsaid reduced'ldiameter chamber in said pipe section so that mud flows downwardly out the bottom of.

said pipe section, whereby said mudoflow through said channel and said whip stockis cut off and diverted to flow out the bottom of said pipe section.

3'. A whip stock tool according to claim 2, in which said laterally movable means comprises a ball member. which is received within said region of said pipe section above said annular flange upon downward movement of said piston from said first to said second position.

4. A whip stock tool according to. claim 2, including lateral shear pins securing said piston to said whip stock tool in said first position; and closure means to block temporarily said upper end entrance portion of said mud passage in said piston whereby said mud pressure is built up sufliciently to shear said shear pins and initially move said piston from said first position towards its second position.

5. A whip stock tool according to claim 4, in which said closure meanscomprises a ball seat formed at said upper end entrance portion of said mud passage and a ball adaptedto be dropped into position on said ball seat to block said mudpassage.

6. Awhip stock tool according to claim 5, including an adapter section threadably secured to the upper end of said pipe section in a position to surround the upper end of said piston in fluid tight relationship when said piston is in said first position, said adapter having an increased diameter portion into which the upper end of said piston moves when, in said second position, said upper end of. said piston having a lateral mud opening below said ball seat. whereby mud, may commence flowing through said'adapter section, into said increased diameter portion, through said lateral mud opening, and down said central mudapassage after said piston is in said second position.

7. A whip stock tool according to claim 6, including a drill bit connected to the lower end of said pipe section and an outlet mud passage for passingmud from said chamber in the lower portion of said pipe section to said drill bit when said piston is in said second position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,401,119 Taylor May 28, 1946' 2,409,811 Taylor et a1 Oct. 22, 1946 2,640,542 Brown et a1 June 2, 1953 2,737,245 Knox Mar. 6, 1956 2,770,444 Neal Nov. 13, 1956 2,776,015 Bielstein Jan. 1, 1957 2,823,012 Hanna Feb. 11, 1958 

